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Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto, Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper and D’Arcy Carden are the stars of The Good Place (Picture: Robert Trachtenberg/NBC)

Following in the footsteps of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Designated Survivor and Better Call Saul, The Good Place is the latest hit US network show to bypass UK TV channels and head straight for Netflix.

Of course, we’ve had to wait a little longer to see what all the fuss is about; it actually debuted on NBC way back in September 2016.

Ahead of its belated premiere on this side of the Atlantic, here’s a look at why the afterlife sitcom belongs in TV heaven.

How can I watch it?

The entire first season – all 13 episodes – will hit Netflix on Thursday September 21.

The season two premiere will also be made available the same day, with a brand new episode then following each week.

What’s it about?

(Picture: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)

The Good Place refers to the heavenly utopia that morally questionable Arizona saleswoman Eleanor Shellstrop finds herself in after her rather unfortunate Darwin Award-worthy demise; getting fatally hit by a billboard advertising a cure for erectile dysfunction.

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Only problem is that she has been mistaken for a same-named humanitarian who has dedicated her life to freeing innocent death-row inmates, and she in fact should be in The Bad Place.

Eleanor must therefore hide her true past from the rest of the do-gooders while simultaneously changing her ways to try to legitimately earn her position in The Good Place.

Who are the leads?

(Picture: Justin Lubin/NBC)

The ever-charming Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars, Bad Moms) stars as the deceitful Eleanor opposite William Jackson Harper (Paterson) as Chidi, the ex-ethics professor who soon discovers her secret after being designated as her soulmate.

They’re also joined by sitcom legend Ted Danson (Cheers) as The Good Place’s architect Michael, former Radio 1 DJ Jameela Jamil as overwhelmingly cheerful philanthropist Tahani and Manny Jacinto as Jianyu Li, a small-time drug dealer who, like Eleanor, has also been mistaken for someone much holier: a Buddhist monk.

Who else is in it?

Picture: Justin Lubin/NBC

The more recognisable faces are often upstaged by D’Arcy Carden (Broad City) who provides plenty of laughs as Janet, the celestial information guide who instantly shows up at the drop of her name.

Elsewhere, there’s Tiya Sircar (The Vampire Diaries) as the real Eleanor, Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation) as Trevor, a Bad Place representative hellbent on revealing Eleanor’s true self, and Marc Evan Jackson (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) as the judge who presides over her fate.

Who’s behind the scenes?

Indeed, The Office USA, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Comeback are just some of the comedy hits that The Good Place creator Michael Schur has had a hand in over the years.

Why should I watch it?

(Picture: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)

The Good Place is nothing if not ambitious; what other prime-time sitcom would attempt to explore issues of such a metaphysical, ethical and theological nature?

But it’s also pretty funny too, with Jamil proving to be a surprisingly strong comedy performer in her first major acting role and more than capable of holding her own against the more experienced Bell and Danson.

The characters’ inability to swear – any curse word is instantly changed to something more innocuous – also provides plenty of laughs.

Sitting somewhere between the familiar and the fantastical, the world of The Good Place, all quaint frozen yoghurt shops and lush gardens, has been beautifully designed.

While the show’s habit of ending on a cliffhanger, which Schur credits to his love of Lost, also ensures the story continually shocks and surprises, particularly the season finale twist which turns the whole show on its head.

What’s the response been?

(Picture: Justin Lubin/NBC)

With a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 90 per cent, The Good Place received the most glowing reviews out of all the new network sitcoms broadcast over the past 12 months.

The Guardian described it as a ‘wonderfully sweet, candy-colored confection that’s a little bit edgy but still has the wholesome values that will make it acceptable for the whole family.’